I worked as an undercover FBI agent for 23 years. Here's what it was like infiltrating bike gangs, cartels, and neo-Nazi groups.
This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Scott Payne, a former undercover FBI agent. Business Insider has verified his employment and certifications with documents. The following has been edited for length and quality.
I served in the FBI for 23 years, mostly as an undercover agent infiltrating bike gangs, cartels and America's neo-Nazi groups.
Undercover work is defined by forming relationships that you may betray in the future and coming to terms with how to do that without it having an adverse effect on your psyche.
I was always fascinated by undercover movies, and I'm a people person. I think that's what drew me to undercover work. I started working as a cop in 1993 and spent three years as a uniform patrol officer, then two years in vice and narcotics.
In 1998, I applied to work for the FBI and was accepted. New York City was my first office in the FBI after the academy.
FBI agents are investigators first
The only thing you're required to be in the FBI is a case agent. You can be a firearms instructor, undercover coordinator, or source handler, but you're an investigator first.
Being an undercover officer is voluntary. Every FBI field office has an undercover coordinator who coaches agents who want to get into the undercover program. They'll ask you questions about your life and family. You have to have the mentality that you can protect yourself — if you're waiting for the SWAT team to come in, it's not for you.
During the selection process, we had psychological tests with a clinical psychologist. They might run you through scenarios and analyze your reactions. Then, the agents considering who gets into the program will select 40 candidates to get certified. It's a 20-slot school, but they have 20 backups if people drop out.
The course is two weeks of nonstop training. The undercover trainers try to expose your weaknesses. Are you going to drink while you're undercover? Do you lose it and start wanting to fight everyone? They're looking for red flags.
I received my undercover certification in 2002. Since I've been on the team, I've never seen a 100% graduation rate.
There are rules for undercover agents
We can't be involved in acts of violence unless it's self-defense. We can't come up with a criminal idea because that would be an entrapment issue. You should never have anything on you that has personal ties to you in the field.
Undercover agents should never use drugs. If you're in a situation where you've taken drugs, you have to tell the case team and the United States Attorney's Office and get to an emergency room to make sure you don't overdose, especially with fentanyl on the market.
As an undercover agent, you have to have your 'legend,' as we call it
Your legend is your backstory. When I was going deep undercover, I needed my backstory to be solid and believable.
I usually used names I had associations with and stuck closely to who I was while undercover. I ride motorcycles and lift weights, and my jokes were going to be the same. Some people think it's dangerous to stick close to the truth, but I generally felt more comfortable using that tactic.
I always liked to have more than one recorder on my person in case something went wrong. The undercover technique is extremely effective at securing evidence. If you're on trial and the evidence you recorded cuts out, not having the full picture could create doubt in a jury's mind. I've never had to testify in an FBI undercover case because the evidence was always overwhelming.
I worked undercover in biker gangs and far-right groups
My personal life and work overlapped. I shared a lot with my wife. Working undercover isn't like being in the military. I wouldn't disappear for months at a time. I would usually be gone for two-week stints. One thing I would do is take my cross off my necklace and put a skull on it. When I got home, I'd switch them back.
To get staffed on an undercover case, FBI headquarters will email every undercover coordinator with a synopsis of what they need, which is circulated to the certified undercovers. Then, you can volunteer for the case.
While working in New York, I saw an opportunity for some undercover work in San Antonio and applied. I got approved for 30 days, then became the primary. They ended up transferring me to the case, and I moved to the Mexican border. I was there as a case agent, working on cartel stuff. This was the only classified case I worked on.
I infiltrated the Outlaws motorcycle gang in Massachusetts, going undercover for three years in 2005. I earned their trust and eventually got enough evidence to arrest them for drug trafficking.
When I was working for the Outlaws, I got very close to one of the guys in the gang. I remember rocking his newborn daughter at his house and working out together. When the case was over, he called me to tell me some of the Outlaws had been arrested. His last words to me were "I love you," and I said it back. I hung up probably as the SWAT team was hitting his house.
In 2019, I worked on a case undercover in a white supremacy group called The Base. It was a group of young guys who wanted to accelerate the collapse of society. We found out about them through a tip on Telegram.
I went in cold and went to the group's firearms training and group meetings and became close with the leader. Eventually, we were able to arrest the head of the group.
I retired in June 2021
After the Base case, I trained undercover employees for domestic terrorism cases. I remember thinking, I'm completely satisfied with my career.
Now, I'm a speaker at conferences and have written a book.
This story was adapted from Scott's interview for Business Insider's series, " Authorized Account." Learn more about his life as an undercover FBI agent in the video below:
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